Friends of Parks South Australia

Friends of Parks South Australia, registered as Friends of Parks Inc.,[1] (FoPInc), is an independent umbrella organisation established to serve and represent the interests of volunteer community groups helping to protect flora, fauna, heritage and other significant sites within South Australia's protected area system. FoPInc collaborates with the South Australian Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia (NPWS), As of January 2022 FoPInc has 146 member groups.

"Friends of Parks" redirects here. For the U.S. organisation, see Friends of the Parks.
Friends of Parks South Australia
Formation1993
TypeUmbrella organisation
HeadquartersAdelaide, South Australia
Membership
5,000+ (2022)
President (2015–)
Duncan MacKenzie OAM
Websitefriendsofparkssa.org.au

History

"Friends" groups are typically affiliated with a specific conservation park, historic site or other protected area.[2] The first such group started at Fort Glanville Conservation Park in 1980, where there had been an existing historical society. The second group was formed at Ferguson Conservation Park in Stonyfell. In 1983, the National Parks and Wildlife Service set up the Friends of Old Government House in Belair National Park. The success of the Friends model had been demonstrated and in the following years many more groups were set up.[3]

FoPInc was established as a charitable organisation on 1 November 1999, and has an associated gift fund with Deductible Gift Recipient status.[1]

Description and structure

FoPInc is governed by a board, and is supported by a secretariat provided through DEW's Volunteer Support Programs Unit, based in Adelaide, which coordinates the network of member groups.[4]

Member groups may be either "full" (working on-park, and may or may not be incorporated in their own right), or "affiliate" (involved with other DEW-endorsed projects, and incorporated in their own right).[5] Each group is supported by a NPWS Liaison Ranger in order to ensure co-ordination with the goals and policies of DEW and park management plans.

The objectives of "Friends" groups are: to provide opportunities for public participation in the management of national parks and historic sites; to raise funds to support national parks, historic sites and the social functions of the Friends group; to publicise national parks and historic sites as well as the objectives of the Friends; and to provide cultural and social events for the benefit of members, staff and the general public.[4]

Each Friends group is financially self-supporting, through a combination of members fees and fund-raising. In addition, the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) provides "Small Grants" for which individual groups may apply on a project basis.[6]

Collectively FoPInc represents over 5,000 individual volunteers in South Australia, who are each affiliated with one or more specific member groups associated with a national park or historic site. In 2015–16, members of Friends groups contributed the equivalent of 11,161 days of volunteer work to the state's protected areas.[7]

As of January 2022 the president of Friends of Parks is Duncan MacKenzie OAM.[8][9][10]

List of places with Friends groups

Parks

Buildings

Other

See also

Footnotes
  1. Now part of Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park

References
  1. "Historical details for ABN 32457858155". ABN Lookup. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. "Home page". Friends of Parks Inc. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  3. Dene Cordes awarded OAM for service to conservation and environment The Islander, 11 June 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  4. "About Us". Friends of Parks South Australia. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. FOP Inc Constitution 30 April 2018 Retrieved 28 January 20.
  6. 2022-23 Friends of Parks Small Grants Program Friends of Parks Inc., 1 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  7. DEWNR Annual Report 2015-16 p. 46. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  8. "Board & Secretariat". Friends of Parks South Australia. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  9. ‘Friendly’ visit to Kangaroo Island by Friends of Parks Board The Islander, 25 June 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  10. MACKENZIE, Duncan OAM The Geelong College, 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  11. "Who Are We?". Friends of the Whyalla Conservation Park. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
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